Modular small-CHP plants optimized design as a way to reduce CO2 emissions

This paper proposes the analysis of two case studies about the optimized design of modular small-CHP plants. The analysis were carried out using DiOGene, an algorithm designed to simulate the operation of such plants also considering the integral constraints imposed by Italian regulations. Two hospitals were the subject of case studies: in fact such kind of public building is usually an ideal site for a CHP plant, due to its peculiar energetic loads. Results show that, carefully choosing the plant configuration, it is possible to achieve significant economic and fuel savings, consequently reducing CO₂ emissions. The analysis also points out how the modular approach, due to its intrinsic flexibility that increases the number the degrees of freedom, is the most suitable one for an effective matching between site characteristics and the machines.